| Dr. Otto Dickman sings of the pain of being a proctologist. |
Every year, the historical society hosts an evening of cowboy poetry, songs and entertainment, and Dutch oven cobbler, and for the past several years, that event has been held at Castle Valley Outdoors. The Johnsons, who own Castle Valley Ranch and Castle Valley Outdoors, have been very generous to allow the historical society use of the facility. The annual event was held Aug. 23. Glendon Johnson said “We are also hosting a meeting of the board of the American Canadian Wellness Board. They are working to make wellness a thing practiced in the workplace. We are pleased to have the historical society here tonight. I am proud of my Emery County heritage. We are all brokenhearted about the accident in Crandall Canyon and the effects on the community,” said Johnson.
A local young man was the first cowboy poet for the evening. Keven Jensen of Cleveland recited a humorous poem about a cowboy and a computer in which the computer did not survive. His second poem was one he had written while herding on the mountain. The poem was about the beauty to be found in the outdoors.
Bruce King, a veterinarian from Axtell was next to perform. His first story was about an antelope hunt with his father on Parker Mountain. The point of the story was to explain the bad taste of the meat from the antelope. King then recited two poems about horses, the home remedies some ranchers use, and the last poem was about the cow committee.
Dr. Otto Dickman was asked to appear before the audience. “Did any of you go to the Relay?” he asked. Several of the attendees raised their hands. “I performed this song at the Relay, and for some reason they asked me to do it here,” said Dickman. He went on to perform a song about a proctologist. It seemed to be an audience favorite.
King was again asked to the front to recite more poems. He recited a poem about the worst predator on the range, the Bureau of Land Management. His other poems concerned a coyote, inheriting a ranch from his dad, and friendship.
Ferron resident Shaun Tomsich entertained the group with two songs, I Left My Heart in San Francisco, and Don’t Fence Me In. The audience joined in with his second song.
Al Shakespaere, another resident of Ferron then sang My Girl and Teddy Bear. Darren Worwood, a young man from Ferron, recited a poem entitled The Clutch, which he had written.
| Keven Jensen makes his debut reciting cowboy poetry at the historical society event. |
Dottie Grimes of the Emery County Archives came to the microphone to introduce the next performer Shirley Hill. “When Shirley was 15 years old, she wrote a poem for her father entitled The Prayer of a Miner’s Child. A blue grass performer, Doc Boggs, called Shirley and asked permission to make the poem into a song. She gave that permission,” said Grimes.
Hill recited her poem and explained the poem was a gift for her father on Father’s Day. She then played the recording of the song done by Doc Boggs. Hill recited two humorous poems about a pleasure farm and saving piglets.
Grimes announced the Archives is putting together a history book about the San Rafael Swell. The need is for any pictures, in black and white, about working, recreating, or using the Swell. Anyone with photos can call the Archives to have the photos copied for the book.
When the cobbler was ready, Tomsich and Shakespaere entertained while the audience was served. The two sang until darkness forced them to stop.
The Emery County Historical Society meets once a month. To join or for more information contact Joyce Staley at 748-5165.